UTEP's Autrey Golden became the first player in program history with three kickoff returns of 96 yards or longer when he covered 100 yards on UTSA's first kickoff (he took it two yards deep in the end zone, but college only counts return yards from the goal line).

He had a 98-yard return to beat Southern Miss last year and a 96-yarder against East Carolina.

Other players with 100-yard returns are Cedrick Johnson against New Mexico in 1996, Howard Jackson against Nevada in 2001 and Marlon McClure against Arkansas in 2010.

Golden now has 1,079 kickoff return yards, eighth most in program history.

For kicks

For the first time since 2003, UTEP didn't kick a field goal until its third game.

A 28-yarder from Jay Mattox was his first career field goal on his second attempt. He missed against New Mexico State. That scoring drive was a season-long 16 plays, covered 53 yards and took 7:17 off the clock.

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Mattox later added a 24-yarder. UTSA's field position following his kickoffs through three quarters were the 25-yard line after an opening touchback, the 20, the 20, and the 17 as UTEP's coverage unit continues a run of excellence following the struggles in the opener against New Mexico.

Punting rotation

UTEP kept its odd punter rotation, though it continues to work.

REPORTER

Bret Bloomquist

Mike Ruggles pinned UTSA on its own 16-yard line with a 39-yard punt in the second quarter (UTEP's first punt of the game), then Brandon Moss hit a low line drive that ended up going for a 44-yard net later in the quarter.

Facing fourth-and-3 from the UTSA 43, he took the ball in the shotgun, punted and pinned UTSA on the 2-yard line as no Roadrunners were back. That means UTEP used three different punters on its first three punts, a modern-era program record.

Ruggles broke the streak by punting for the second time early in the fourth quarter and pinned UTSA on the 6-yard line.

Possession

The Miner offense had the ball just one time in the first quarter. UTSA opened with a 75-yard scoring drive that took 3:50 off the clock, then Golden had his kick return.

UTSA was three-and-outed on the next drive, then UTEP went on a 16-play drive that scored with just 1:28 left in the quarter. They didn't get the ball back until 12:18 of the second quarter. By then, they were trailing 15-10.

More possessed

UTSA's opening drive of the second half burned 6:22 off the clock, took 10 plays and covered just 24 yards. That included 14 yards of offense, 15 penalty yards on a UTEP personal foul and a 5-yard illegal formation penalty on the Roadrunners.

After gaining 303 yards in the first two quarters, the Roadrunners had 14 in the third quarter.

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